Sprayer



F. H. MALONEY S PRAYER Filed Nov. 15, 1939 ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 28,1942 SPRAYER Frank H. Maloney, Elmhurst, Long Island, N. Y., assignor toBrass Goods Manufacturing 00., Brooklyn, N. Y., a corporation of NewYork Application November 15, 1939, Serial No. 304,453

Claims.

This invention relates to a sprayer and, particularly, to a device ofsimplified construction adapted for spraying a liquid upon a window, an-

automobile wind-shield, clothing, or the like.

The sprayer includes means for delivering liquid to 'a sprayingcompartment, a resiliently yieldable diaphragm member for alternatelyincreasing and decreasing the pressure within the said compartment, anda nozzle extending from the diaphragm member. The sprayingcompartment iscontinuously in communication with the atmosphere; yet the liquid to besprayed is in troduced into the spraying compartment entirely bysuction.

In spraying devices of this general type, including means for'drawingliquid by suction into the spraying compartment, it has been customaryheretofore to provide a check-valve for closing the nozzle or to useother parts not required in my sprayer, in order to avoid loss ofsuction within the compartment while liquid is being drawn thereinto. Y

I have now discovered that, when the orifice in the nozzle is ofcapillary fineness, the hollow member for delivering liquid to thespraying compartment is relatively large, and the nozzle extends fromthe spraying compartment in manner shown, then a partial vacuum createdmomentarily within the spraying compartment draws an adequate amount ofliquid thereinto, before the air that enters through the nozzle breaksthe partial vacuum. A sprayer based upon this discovery containsrelatively few parts and is inexpensive to manufacture. Furthermore, themetal parts of the sprayer may be constructed of sheet metal, in placeof machined parts formerly used in sprayers of the same general class.

The invention will be illustrated by description in connection with theattached drawing, to

which reference is made.

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of the head of my improved sprayerand a part of a conventional container for a supply of the liquid to besprayed. I

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 2-2, of Fig. 1.

The spray device illustrated in the drawing comprises a liquid containerI having a threaded neck 2 and a unitary attachment in the form of aliquid pump. This attachment comprises a cap member 3 including a fiatpart extending over the open end of the container and a. skirt portionformed with threads, so that the cap member may be screwed onto the neckof the container for the liquid.

Mounted upon the cap member 3 is a spraying head including a rigid basemember in the form of an annular clamp 4, and an enclosure memberresting upon the base member and having at its lower edge a flangeportion 5 engaged in a channel formed on the outer edge of the clampmember 4. The said enclosure member defines a spraying compartment withthe base member 4.

A diaphragm Ii constitutes the major portion of the enclosure member. Arelatively stiff portion I of the enclosure member is provided with ahole. A nozzle 8 extends through the hole and is provided with adischarge orifice 9 of capillary fineness.

The clamp member 4 is formed with a central opening above the open endof the container and with an upstanding flange I0 around the opening.The cap member 3 is also formed with a central opening of the samediameter as. the central opening through the member 4.

A tubular member II, formed with an external shoulder I2 near its upperend, passes as an eyel'et through the said openings, so that theshoulder rests against and below the cap member 3. The upper end portionI3 of the tubular memher I I is spun over and around the flange I0, tohold the cap member 3 and the clamp member 4 firmly to one another,between the shoulder I2 and the end portion I3 of the tubular member Themember II is joined to a tubular extension I4 which, in turn, extendsbelow the level of liquid (not shown) in the container I. The member IIand extension I4 together constitute a hollow member or line fordelivering liquid to the spraying compartment.

Suitably, a gasket I5 is disposed between the top of the container I andthe cap member 3.

The tubular member I! contains a check-valve including ball I6, normallyresting upon the seat I! provided with a circularhole of diametersomewhat smaller than that of the ball, and a perforated stop plate I8disposed some distance above the ball, for retaining the ball within thetubular member II under all circumstances.

The cap member 3, in a portion thereof above the opening at the top ofthe container I, is pro-* vided with an opening I9 considerably largerthan the orifice 9. The cap member is provided also with a groove 20,communicating with the opening I9 and extending therefrom between themembers '3 and 4, to provide unrestricted communication between theliquid in the container and the atmosphere.

The spraying compartment, on the other hand, is substantially air-tightexcept for the sole communication through the orifice 9. There is a snugfit of the nozzle 8 within the thickened portion 1 of the enclosuremember ofthe spraying compartment and of flange of the same member inthe channel at the periphery of the clamp member 4. Also, the eyelet IIis tight against flange ID at the position of entrance of the eyeletinto the spraying compartment.

The internal diameters of the liquid delivery line (H and I4) and of theorifice 9 are so proportioned that the rate of flow .of liquid throughthe said line is large as compared to the inward fiow of air through theorifice 9. As a result, the spraying compartment becomes filled with theliquid to a satisfactory level before the partial vacuum is broken byair entering through the orifice.

For best results, the orifice should have an area of opening of theorder of 0.00008 to 0.001 square inch. Particularly good results havebeen obtained when the orifice has a diameter of about 0.021 inch,corresponding roughly to 0.0003 square inch. While the orifice may havevarious shapes,

the orifice should have a resistance to the flow of air therethroughapproximately equal to that of a circular hole of the size stated.

While the orifice 9 should be of capillary fineness, the liquid line Hand 14 should be large, :1

so as to permit free fiow of liquid to the spraying compartment. Thus,the liquid lines should have each.a flow area of the order of at least0.008 square inch. A suitable liquid delivery line,

for instance, is rubber hose of three-sixteenth i inch internal diameterfitted in conventional manner to the connecting member II. There is noobjection to a very large liquid delivery line,

except that when the line becomes over a quarter to half inch ininternal diameter, the line may become cumbersome and inconvenientwithout any offsetting advantage.

The ratio between the areas of openings in the liquid delivery line andthe orifice 9 will vary with the consistency of th liquid to be sprayedand the amount of liquid that it is desired to spray with eachdepression of the diaphragm. For some purposes the ratio of the internaldiameter of the liquid supplying line and of the orifice 9 is made solarge that liquid is drawn into the spraying compartment at a rate ofthe order of or even more rapid than the rate at which air is admittedthereto, under the sa ne diflferential between atmospheric pressure onhe liquid in the container and the reduced pressure within the sprayingcompartment.

In general, the size of opening in the liquid delivery line may besmaller in sprayers for nonviscous liquids, such as wind-shieldcompositions and perfumes, than for more viscous products such asglycerin. Depending in this manner upon the viscosity of the liquid tobe sprayed, the area of opening in the members II and H for best resultsshould be many times that of the orifice, say, at least about ten timesthe area of cross section of the orifice.

A convenient method of operating the sprayer is as follows.

The hand is placed around the cap member 3 or upper part of thecontainer I, with the thumb on the diaphragm 6. The diaphragm is thenal-' ternately forced downward and released, so that the pressure in thespraying compartment is first phragm has been thus pressed and allowedto recover a number of times, suflicient liquid will have been drawninto the spraying compartment to reach the level of the orifice 9.Continuing It will be understood that the liquid drawn into the sprayingcompartment is retained in position for spraying by means such as theball checkvalve described. Metal balls are satisfactory in the valve,particularly when constituted of material that does not; corrode in theliquid being sprayed.

The nozzle is in direct and unrestricted communication with the sprayingcompartment. This is a distinction from certain earlier sprays in whicha check-valve was associated with the nozzle, to prevent entrance of airthrough the nozzle into the spraying compartment during that part ofthe'spraying cycle when the compartment is under a partial vacuum.

In the eyeletted connection of the members 3 and 4, member 3 is free torotate around the eyelet ll. Or, when the member 3 is screwed on to thecontainer, then the spraying head may be rotated on part I l as a pivot,without loosening the engagement of thecap 3 on the container.

Theenclosure member of the spraying compartment extends on the inside asubstantial distance above the level of the orifice in the nozzle. Withsuch a construction, the return of the diaphragm to the normal position,after the release of pressure thereon, draws liquid to a level above theorifice before the pressure of air withinthe upper part of the enclosingmember reaches atmospheric. Advantageously, approximately a third ormore of the volume of the spraying compartment is'abovethe level of theorifice in the nozzle and the diaphragm is adapted to be depressed wellbelow the level of the orifice, to expel not only liquid spray but alsoconsiderable .air from the compartment, before the diaphragm isreleased.

For the parts described, usual materials of construction may be used.Rubber has been used satisfactorily, as the chief constituent of theportion 1 of the enclosure which holds the nozzle, I have used the samematerial in a somewhat thicker layer or in stiffened form, so' as tominimize change of direction of the nozzle as the diaphragm 6 ismanipulated. Other resiliently yieldable materials may, of course, besubstituted for the rubber as, for example, polymerized chloroprene ofrubbery consistency, synthetic rubber, or the like. In any case, usualcompounding ingredients may be incorporated.

Cap member 3 and clamp 4 are suitably constructed of sheet metal and thenozzle 8 and eyelet H of metal tubing, say, of copper, brass, or platedsteel.

The details that have been given are for the purpose of illustration ofthe invention, not restriction. It is intended,- therefore, thatvariations within the spirit of the invention are to be included withinthe scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A sprayer comprising a spraying head and means for delivering theretoliquid to be sprayed, the spraying head including a rigid base member, aperipheral channel thereon, a resilient member resting atits edge uponthe base member and defining therewith the spraying compartment,

' a flange extending laterally from the said edge of the resilientmember and engaged in the said channel, and a nozzle extending throughthe resilient member. K

2. A sprayer for mounting on the neck of a container comprising a capmember of sheet metal having depending means for engaging the containerneck and an integral inwardly extending flange, a head comprising a basemem-- through registering openings in, the cap member flange and thebase member, and having a liquidtight engagement with said base member,the tubular member being provided with means for preventing substantialback-flow'of liquid into the container. 7

'3. A sprayer as setforth in claim 2 in which the upper margin of thetubular member is turned outwardly and downwardly into clampingengagement with the upturned central mar- ,gin of the base member.

4. A sprayer as set forth in claim 2 in which the upper portion of thetubular member includes an integral portion deflected outwardly intoengagement with said flange of the cap member,

arranged to maintain said base member and cap member in assembledposition.

5. A sprayer comprising. a spraying head and means for deliveringthereto liquid to be sprayed, the spraying head including a rigid basemember, a peripheral channel associated therewith, a resilient memberresting at its bottom portion upon the base member and definingtherewith the spraying compartment, a flange extending laterally fromthe said bottom portion of the resilient member and engaged in the saidchannel, and a nozzle extending through the resilien memberQ FRANK H.MALONEY.

